Shang Baojun, Liu's former lawyer and a close friend, said that during the consultation with the foreign experts, Liu was "clear-headed and communicated smoothly, and could even speak English".

"He again expressed a desire to go abroad for treatment, preferably in Germany, though the US would also be fine, and his family members said the same," Shang told The Associated Press news agency on Saturday.

"We sincerely hope this request will be approved."

In a sign of the seriousness of Liu's decline, his younger and older brothers and their wives were being allowed to see him, Shang said. At the hospital, Liu has been mostly accompanied by his wife, Liu Xia, and her brother.

A group of his friends fear he is near death and they issued an open letter earlier this week calling on the Chinese government to give them access to their ailing friend on "humanitarian" grounds.

The office of the United Nations human rights chief on Friday also expressed concern about Liu's condition and said the UN should be granted access to both Liu and his wife.

China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Liu would be allowed to leave.